Shooting target with annunciation of engagement of targeted regions of the target

ABSTRACT

A remotely-perceptible, impact-indicating target for a projectile, such as a bullet or the like, constructed so as to remotely perceptibly indicate and annunciate very realistically, to a target shooter at a projectile shooting location, the impact of a shot or fired projectile or bullet on a remotely located target in a manner clearly visibly perceptibly indicating not only the hit, but the impact location of the projectile or bullet on the target, by causing the effective expansion in an explosion-simulating manner of a quantity of visibly perceptible target material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to targets intended for use in shootinga type of projectile, more particularly for use in target shooting witha gun which fires bullets at the target for the purpose of testingshooting accuracy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Targets are typically used to test shooting accuracy and for buildingand maintaining shooting skill. However, moveable and/or portabletargets can make it difficult for the shooter or observer if, or where,the projectile has hit the target after shooting or firing at it. It istherefore often necessary to either walk to the target to examine it, orhave the target moved along a conveyer to bring it close to the shooterfor examination. This is disadvantageous for a number of reasons, amongthem being the inconvenience of having to walk up to the targetfrequently, or stop shooting to allow the target to move closer to theshooter in order to carefully examine it for the bullet impact.Furthermore, there is always the possibility of someone else shooting atthe target while a first person is near the target which, of course, isextremely dangerous. Finally, the enjoyment of the activity is disruptedby the examination of the target.

One known and obvious method to overcome these problems is the use ofvarious telescopic or binocular type optical devices to allow theshooter or observer to remotely observe the target. However, thesedevices are expensive and require interruption of the shooting activityto utilize.

Another prior art method is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,228 whereinit is disclosed that a target comprises an assembly of target materialof a visibly perceptible color capable of being remotely visible when aprojectile impacts any portion of the target material. However, '228discloses only fine particle solid material which is contained inpackets mounted on the face of the target. Thus, '228 has targetmaterial packets which, in essence, are the targets themselves, mountedon the front surface of the target. The shooter is positioned on thesame side of the target as the target material packets and, in order toreceive the desired sensory feedback, must actually aim at and hit thetarget material packets. Such an arrangement is therefore not desirablein the case of the shooting target comprising a form such as an animalor human silhouette or image. Further, the nature of the fineparticulate solid material within the packets dictates that, when struckwith the projectile, a dust will be emitted. While this does providenotice of striking, it is not realistic or particularly visuallysatisfying if the shooter is expecting a burst of, e.g., blood ortissue-containing blood to increase the perception of reality, as willbe the case for shooters utilizing the present invention.

Thus, it would be highly advantageous to provide some type of readilyportable target which would be convenient for casual field targetshooting use, or any target shooting use for that matter, and whichwould provide a very perceptible and realistic indication to a remotetarget shooter of the hitting or missing of the target by a fired bulletor other projectile and which would be relatively inexpensive andecologically safe and non-damaging to the environment. It is preciselysuch a highly desirable and advantageous type of remotely-perceptibleimpact-indicating and projectile target capable of realisticannunciation of the striking of the target in a particular area that isprovided by and in the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A remotely-perceptible, impact-indicating target for a projectile, suchas a bullet or the like, constructed so as to remotely perceptiblyindicate and annunciate very realistically, to a target shooter at aprojectile shooting location, the impact of a fired bullet, or shot orthrown projectile on a remotely located target in a manner clearlyvisibly perceptibly indicating not only the hit, but the impact locationof the projectile or bullet on the target, by causing the effectiveexpansion in an explosion-simulating manner of a quantity of visiblyperceptible target material.

The Figures and the detailed description which follow more particularlyexemplify these and other embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments of the inventionin connection with the accompanying drawings, which are as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view illustrating one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings anddescribed in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that theintention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodimentsdescribed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

One embodiment of the present invention is provided in FIGS. 1-4. Inthis embodiment, an individual target 12 with an image I disposed on thefront surface F of the individual target 12 and a simulated blood and/ortissue packet 16 affixed to the rear surface of the individual target.As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image I may be supplemented with a bull'seye as defined by a series of concentric rings centered around aparticular targeted region 14. In the illustrated case, the image Icomprises the outline of a person, with the bull's eye surrounding thetargeted region 14, the approximate center of the head of the image I.FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16affixed to the rear surface R of the individual target 12. As shown, theblood and/or tissue packet 12 is arranged to substantially cover thearea covered by the bull's eye or targeted region 14.

FIG. 1 illustrates a shooter S located at a distance from the presentinvention 10, having shot a bullet B from a weapon W toward the target12. In the illustrated example, the weapon is a rifle, though it isunderstood that the weapon W may be a handgun or any other form of gun.Further, the weapon W may be any device which is capable of shooting anyprojectile, e.g., a bow shooting an arrow will fall within the scope ofthe present invention. Moreover, the bullet is a projectile. Otherprojectiles within the scope of the present invention include any itemthat may be shot, fired and/or thrown with sufficient force to piercethe target and the simulated blood packet(s) mounted behind the target.FIGS. 1-3 thus illustrate the exemplary bullet B traversing the distancebetween the weapon W and the target 12 and, ultimately, piercing thetarget 12 in substantially the center of the targeted region 14,exemplified by the bull's eye in the Figures, and subsequently piercingthe simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16, causing an explodingrelease of the simulated blood and/or tissue 18 contained within thepacket 16. Such an exploding release results in a visually satisfyingannunciation 20, preferably blood colored liquid mist, confirmingstriking the desired targeted region 14, in the illustrated case, theimage's head region, with the projectile.

The annunciation provided when the blood and/or tissue packet 16 ispierced by the exemplary projectile bullet B may comprise a cloud 20 ofcolored liquid and/or granular particulates comprising in the preferredembodiment a substantially blood-red color and composition consistentwith the particular anatomical region of the target's image that hasbeen targeted and engaged and pierced by the exemplary bullet B. Forexample, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the bull's eye targets the headregion of the image. Thus, the simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16will preferably contain a reddish mixture of simulated blood and braintissue 18.

Moreover, FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the target ofFIGS. 1-4, wherein a second bull's eye identifying a second targetedregion 22 is provided targeting the image's heart region in addition toa first bull's eye targeting region 14, as described above, the image'shead region. Thus, a first simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16 isaffixed to the rear surface R of the target 12, substantially coveringthe head region of the target's image I. A second simulated blood and/ortissue packet 24 is affixed to the rear surface R of the target 12,substantially covering the heart region of the target's image.

FIGS. 5-7 thus illustrate an exemplary bullet B traversing the distancebetween the weapon W and the target 12 and, ultimately, piercing thetarget 12 in substantially the center of the first bull's eye 14 andsubsequently piercing the associated simulated blood and/or tissuepacket 16, causing an exploding release cloud and annunciation 20 of thesimulated blood and/or tissue 18 contained within the packet 16. Such anexploding release results in a visually satisfying annunciation 20 ofhitting the desired targeted region 14.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7, the first simulated blood and/or tissuepacket, i.e., the head region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 16,will preferably be filled with a combination of materials 18 to simulateboth exploding release of blood and brain matter when the exemplarybullet B passes through the bull's eye targeted region 14 around theimage's head and pierces the head region simulated blood and/or tissuepacket 16. In contrast, the second simulated blood and/or tissue packet,i.e., the heart region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 24 willpreferably be filled with a blood simulation material to simulate theexploding release of blood when an exemplary bullet B passes through thebull's eye targeted region 22 around the image's heart region, piercingthe heart region simulated blood and/or tissue packet 24. In thismanner, the shooter is provided with a satisfying annunciation 20 ofsuccessful targeting of the target image's head region and/or heartregion.

The targets 12 illustrated are exemplary only. As described, humanimages may be used, but also animal images or fantastical creatures suchas zombies, werewolves and the like. In addition, more than twosimulated blood and/or tissue packets may be arranged in coincidencewith more than two bull's eye target regions on the target image. Forexample, individual limbs may comprise bull's eye target regions andassociated simulated blood and/or tissue packets. Moreover, the headregion may comprise more than one simulated blood and/or tissue packetwhich is coincident with a targeted region. For example, targetedregions may be provided in association with simulated blood and/ortissue packets as follows: one on the image's forehead region, one oneach eye socket and one on the image's mouth region. The number,placement, size and shaping of the targeted regions and associatedsimulated blood and/or tissue packets is limited only by the imaginationof the designer. Consequently, the present invention comprises at leastone targeted region on the front surface of the target with anassociated simulated blood and/or tissue packet for each at least onetargeted region, the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packetbeing located and affixed on the rear surface of the target,substantially behind the associated targeted region.

The targeted region(s) are illustrated as comprising a bull's eye on thefront surface F of the target 12. This is preferred, though a bull's eyeis not necessary to identify the targeted region(s) for the shooter inadvance of shooting. The targeted region(s) may comprise othermechanisms for designating the targeted region(s), or alternatively maycomprise no mechanism for designating the targeted region(s). In thislatter case, the shooter is left to discover the targeted region(s)without aid of, e.g., a bull's eye.

The simulated blood and/or tissue packets of the present invention are,as discussed supra, designed to provide the most realistic annunciationof a targeted strike on the targeted region(s) of the target imagepossible. The composition that is provided in a simulated “blood” packetcomprise well known mixtures. Exemplary simulated “blood” composition Amay comprise 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 gallon of water and between 5-20ounces of red food coloring. Exemplary simulated “blood” composition Bmay comprise 2 cups of corn syrup, 1 cup water, 10 tablespoons of flourand 1 tablespoon of red food coloring. Exemplary “tissue”, e.g., brain,composition may be formed from exemplary simulated “blood” compositionsA or B, but also including material for texture, e.g., bread chunks,instant oatmeal, grapes and the like. These compositions are all withinthe public domain and are provided, as described herein, to provide themost realistic annunciation of a targeted hit as possible. Othercompositions will certainly be readily recognized by the skilledartisan, each such composition is within the scope of the presentinvention.

The blood packet construction may comprise a thin plastic which may bearranged to create a sealed void therein, within which the blood and/ortissue composition is placed in preparation for affixation to the rearsurface R of the target 12. Generally, two flattened sides are the mostefficient design for the blood and/or tissue packets, with the edgesbeing heat sealed to form a tight bond and thereby sealing thecomposition within. Alternatively, a self-sealing material as is knownto the skilled artisan may be used to create the sealed simulated bloodand/or tissue packets, with the composition being injected into the voidof the sealed packets. Various packet construction methods and materialswill present themselves to the skilled artisan, each of which is withinthe scope of the present invention, so long as the construction andmaterials used for the simulated blood and/or tissue packets allowspiercing annunciation of a target hit or strike of the target's image I.

The present invention should not be considered limited to the particularexamples described above, but rather should be understood to cover allaspects of the invention. Various modifications, equivalent processes,as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may beapplicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art towhich the present invention is directed upon review of the presentspecification.

1. An annunciating target for a shooter of a projectile, wherein theshooter is located remotely from the target, the target comprising: afront surface having an image thereon, the image having at least onetargeted region; a rear surface; a simulated blood and/or tissue packetaffixed to the rear surface and comprising substantially liquid materialtherein in association with each of the at least one target regions, thesimulated blood and/or tissue packet adapted to create a blood-coloredliquid mist cloud upon piercing of the at least one targeted regions andthe associated simulated blood and/or tissue packet, the blood-coloredliquid mist cloud annunciating to the shooter that the targeted regionwas engaged and the simulated blood and/or tissue packet was pierced bythe projectile.
 2. The annunciating target of claim 1, furthercomprising the at least one targeted region comprising the image's headand wherein the substantially liquid material within the associatedsimulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-colored liquidcomposition to simulate blood and red textured composition to simulatebrain matter.
 3. The annunciating target of claim 1, further comprisingthe at least one target region comprising the image's heart region andwherein the substantially liquid material within the associatedsimulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-colored liquidcomposition to simulate blood.
 4. The annunciating target of claim 2,further comprising the at least one target region comprising the image'sheart region and wherein the substantially liquid material within theassociated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises blood-coloredliquid composition to simulate blood.
 5. The annunciating target ofclaim 1 wherein the simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises twoplastic sides with heat-sealed edges forming a void therein, wherein thesubstantially liquid material is disposed.
 6. The annunciating target ofclaim 5, further comprising the plastic sides formed from a self-sealingmaterial.
 7. The annunciating target of claim 1, further comprising abull's eye centered on each of the at least one targeted regions.
 8. Amethod for annunciating a targeted hit of a shooting target by a shooterwith a weapon and associated projectile, the shooter located remotelyfrom the shooting target, comprising: providing a target with a frontsurface and a rear surface and located remotely from the shooter;providing an image on the front surface of the target; designating atleast one targeted region on the image; affixing to the rear of thetarget, and in association with the at least one targeted region, asimulated blood and/or tissue packet comprising a substantially liquidcomposition comprising blood-colored liquid and/or textured simulatedtissue material; shooting the projectile from the weapon; engaging theat least one targeted region with the projectile; piercing the simulatedblood and/tissue packet associated with the engaged at least onetargeted region; annunciating the engaging of the at least one targetedregion with a blood-colored mist cloud, visible to the remotely locatedshooter.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating the atimage's head region as the at least one targeted region and ensuring thesubstantially liquid material within the associated simulated bloodand/or tissue packet comprises a blood-colored liquid composition tosimulate blood and blood-colored textured composition to simulate brainmatter
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising designating theimage's heart region at least one target region as the image's heartregion and ensuring the substantially liquid material within theassociated simulated blood and/or tissue packet comprises ablood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising designating the image's heart region as theat least one target region and ensuring the substantially liquidmaterial within the associated simulated blood and/or tissue packetcomprises a blood-colored liquid composition to simulate blood.